Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-19

ms hands clenched his face distorted Wltn
passion, he muttered
"l'll fix ye, ye puny, white livered cuss!
Ye can't ride over we'uns, reckonl Curse
we, I'll fix vel"
His hand clasped his ugly knife wiz, con
vuslve grasp as ne spoke. Love and disap-
pointment had worked wondrous and
devilish change indeed in dull, soft hearted
Lem Ruffner.
Suddenly he was startled 10y light touch
on his arm, and the rays Of the rising moon
shone full on Sues white, scared face.
"What air ye gwine ter do, Lens" she
asked, anxiously; and then, as a look of hor
ror came into her eyes, she cried, "Ye air
meanin' him harm, Lem; oh, we air lowin'
ter kill himn
Lem looked at the upturned face of tho
girl, and with a bitter laugh exclaimed:
"Ye air right smart gal, Sukey. We kin
jess look clar inter a man N tell jess what he
reckons ter do. Yes, l air gwne to kill him,
suah!n
ooh, Leml why will yc do Lit' Has he
ever harmed you'"
Charmed me!' the man savag2ly cried.
| "Ain't he harmed me, and robbed ITO, and
hurted me bad! Amt the smooth talkin'
cuss stopped me all short N sudden like, N
driv all the cumfert out'n my life? DYE
reckin as only hims er heart n feelin's N
hopes N plans? Dye reckin we'uns CANT hev
no lection fer a sweet, purity gal, jess swells
him! Kin | see him a takn' We away from
me N not hate him? LUX hyar, Suliey, | air
mad ter night, N I'm Gwine ter kill n tear
his heart outen him. You git"
ooh, Lem, dom yer do hit!' pleaded Sue,
clingng convulsively TO his arm though he
tried to shake her off. Don't yer do hitl
Tc amt no murderer ter heart, yc air too
good fur't N ye doesn't wanter hang; we
wants ter die in yer bed like honest folks"
Course yer hanGn Do | cyar fer hit? Use
no tolkseS IL no frens. l recklned he'd ye,
but he stole We away n I've jess nothln'. Let
EN- hang me. LII Tx nm, tho, curse me II l
dontT,
~, Lem. won't nothlH save hlmg Must
we DO 1t, suahF crled the terriiled girl; and,
throwing herseiI at ms ieet' she pieaueo IN
agohIAeu 'o'ies lor 'ne ilie Vi 'iie nun sie
loved
sudden luea plerceu Lem uuli praih'
naV IL ne couiu nlaAo 1taiiiey suller as NE
sul1ereui hao IL ne couiu liiiiicV eAcr uclaV-
ing ana ileiomg paln' QUIZ IL lo' oe oe'Ver'
even. IMAM hllllnS MS IlNal'
"naV y" uu w q '0' N''i' - ''UNe''
he aSAeq' 49,.
| q,
yves for vour soke,n exclaimed Lem with
hitter ernuhasis: CHATS less hitl Hit war fer
vour sake war pwyne ter kill him.
"Rnt nov, va won't Lem. va won't do hit
will We? I'll do whatever We say, only let him
| 90"
oyer love him. Sukey"
The girl turned her tear filled pleading
| eyes ON Lem, and casping her hands in the
| intensity of her emotion, cxclaimed:
"Better'n life er anythn'!'
Lem ground his teeth savagely, and only
| by a mighty effort controlled himself.
wTben veil do what | say. Swar that veil
never speak to him agin, nor ever see him.
nor marry him. Swar ter all that n he goes
free clar but eff We don't I'll pitch his dead
carcass inter the swamp thar ternght fer the
hogs N the buzzards ter feed on"
ooh Jem, not that air, No. not that,'
cried tbn cirl niteously
"Thot e. dpoth fer him" Lem answered
with Grim f4rocitv. and Suo. looking I'D into
his face and searcliur il forsome sign of pity
or relent,ug. saw only logged vindictive
hate With hone gone she cried. II swar,
e,rar,u aud foil in a s,voon at his feet
1,,, oo,,,,o,.o,, ,l,o crirI 70 bor bo,na h,, n
chou o,,+ ond q fav minutes latar Stan
| I, ,,;,,,. lo,o, ,Lo nth yhis+lad softly
''
some popular ar ana went WIN puoNahU
STEP never dreaming OF danger ana Wholly
ignorant OF the sacrlllce just made Tor his
sake @T*
But Lem was disappointed. Although he
had scored an imaginary victory, it did not
give him the satisfaction he had expected.
Going to his lonely cabin after seeing that
Sukey was safe at home, he tried to sleep,
but instead tossed feverishly on his bed.
Finally he arose, and partially dressing him
self went out into the forest, where lie walked
restlessly back and forth.
1t was beautiful night transcendently
sweet and pure and elevating. Amid the
silence and solemn grandeur there was no
hint of trials, jealouses or heartaches.
Rather, they spoke of rest, peace, love, an
overruling power that doeth all things well.
Something akin to this idea penetrated
LENS mind. He felt the soothing influence
of the night, but he could not tell low or
why he felt it, Probably no thought of ex-